alessi limited edition tea & coffee towers by jean nouvel
jean nouvel: "the heirs to a long tradition, the objects and accessories used for drinking coffee have reached a high level of formal precision. like the wineglass, the coffee cup is almost perfect. so there was no question of revolutionising its design but rather seeking to perfect it. the origins of the model go back to a cup in vogue in cafés during the 1960s, a simple cup made of thick china, coffee-colored on the outside and with gilding on the inside. the new cup is cylindrical and consists of a double metal shell. it is isothermic: the brew remains hot inside; this makes the handle superfluous so it has been eliminated. the outside is a glossy coffee-color with a mirror finish at the base. the words printed on the saucer appear reflected on the cup: "café, café que j'aime ta couleur café," the refrain of a song by serge gainsbourg. the set is perfectly simple and rigorously functional. design with aurélien barbry"

coffee set comprising: coffee pot, milk jug, sugar bowl, 2 coffee cups with saucers and tray.

production limited to 99 copies, plus 3 author's proofs. available exclusively through max protetch gallery, price available upon request.